Bassist Erik Fratzke from Happy Apple was nice enough to stop by the Jazz88 studio to discuss the group’s new studio album New York CD. It’s the group’s first release in 17 years and Fratzke talked about the life cycle of the band and the beautiful rapport and camaraderie the group is enjoying as they...Read More

Bassist Erik Fratzke from Happy Apple talks about the trio’s upcoming shows at Crooners Supper Club on Saturday, Apr. 27 at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. He talks about some of his favorite Happy Apple tunes (“Ella By Nightlight,” “This is Your Ghost Train,” and “He’s OK”), and the trio’s plans for a new album....Read More

Three years ago, I was in Boston at Harmonix Music Systems, visiting a composer who works there. Harmonix is a studio known for making video games tied to music, like Guitar Hero, Rock Band and the fantastic motion-based game Fantasia: Music Evolved.* When the composer, Steve Pardo, found out we were from Minneapolis, he starting professing his love for...Read More